Hi everyone long time no see. My very first market was rather a let down but I made a new contact and got some incredible tips, so all was not lost.

I have been very busy lately making things as well as shopping. I sure do love shopping. My local hospice gave me a wonderful surprise. A whole lot of babies to fix up. Some are Barbie’s and some are not. They looked so lost and forlorn I could not resist. So they are all off to the parlor to be fixed up. So are really damaged, one has part of her foot taken off, so some thought will have to go into her repair

I have been rather busy getting ready for my Night Market this coming Saturday. I knocked up these two little gems this morning as I was awake rather early and did not want to disturb the family. Watch out for a free pattern, coming soon.

I am getting ready for a Night Market in Hillcrest, Durban, KwaZuluNatal on Saturday 8th. This will be my very first and I am so excited. It would be great if you came to say hello if you are in the area.

I suddenly realized that I had very little sewn items so I have been sewing up a storm these last 2 days. Unfortunately time is limited for me as I have other commitments that take most of the day, but I am sure I will have quite a hoard by the time the market arrives.

I am posting a sneak preview of the things I have made so far. they are also available in my store.

Today I wanted to do something different. This is what eventually got created and I thought it would be nice to share this with you. I took a piece of material roughly 24cm wide and 20cm long, some shearing elastic

Pic 1Pic 2Pic 3Pic 4Pic 5

I zigzagged the top of the material then folded it over. I took the shearing elastic and started making rows along the top. As you can see I went the width of the sewing foot and passed the shearing elastic down the middle. I used a zigzag to hold the elastic. (Pic 1) The start of the elastic I tied a knot and put a pin to secure it while I sewed. I did 5 row but as you can see it seemed rather low. (Pic 2) Next time I think I will do 6 rows. In the picture with me measuring the lines it looked alright but if you look at the finished dress it could have been higher. The finished product should look like Pic 3. To secure the elastic at the sides, I sewed up and down the elasticized area. I then folded the ends over, like in pic 4, as a placket. Then I sewed up the back seam, pressed it open and hemmed the bottom. Because of the elastic the top just slides down so you will need some kind of strap. I like using the same material, so I made my straps with that. You can also use ribbon. The choice is yours. For a closure I used Velcro but you can use buttons or studs or whatever you like to use. (Pic 7) You may also want to close

Pic 7

the back up altogether as the material is wide enough to pass over the hips and bust. Annie unfortunately have bent arms so it gets difficult to put on.

I hope this was helpful to you. Please fell free to gve me some feedback.

In White Ch 47
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, Insert beads with each st (every second row), sc over remaining sts (46 sts)
Row 2: Ch 2 turn, hdc in 6 sts, ch 5, sk 10 sts, hdc x12, ch 5, sk 10 sts, hdc in 7 sts
Row 3: Ch 2, and hdc across sts
Repeat row 3 for 3 more rows
Row 7: Ch 2, (5 hdc, hdc2tog) repeat to end (31sts)
Row 8: Ch 2, hdc acrross row
Row 9: Ch 2, (hdc2tog, hdc 7 sts), repeat to last sts, hdc (26 sts)
Row 10: Ch 2, hdc across row
Repeat row 10 x2
Next row: Ch2, 1hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, ( hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st) repeat to end of row
Next row: Ch2, 1hdc in next st, 2 hdc in next st, ( hdc in next 2 sts, 2 hdc in next st) repeat to end of row
Next row: Ch3, (sk1 st, dc1,ch1) repeat across row, join with ss
Next row: Ch3, (sk1 st, dc1,ch2) repeat across row, join with ss
Next row: Ch3, (sk1 st, dc1,ch3) repeat across row, join with ss
Next row: Ch2, 2dc in same place, (ch3, skip 1ch sp, 3dc in next ch space, 3ch, SK next ch space and do 3dc on dc, ss to join
Next row: Ch2, 3dc on on dcs, (ch3, 4dc on next dc cluster) repeat to end of row ss to join
Next row: Ch2, 4dc on on dcs, (ch3, 5dc on next dc cluster) repeat to end of row ss to join
Next row: Ch2, 5dc on on dcs, (ch3, 6dc on next dc cluster) repeat to end of row ss to join
Next row: Ch2, 4dc on on dcs, (ch5, 5dc on next dc cluster) repeat to end of row ss to join
Next row: Ch2, 3dc on on dcs, (ch8 4dc on next dc cluster) repeat to end of row ss to join
Next row: Ch2, 2dc on on dcs, (ch5, 11dc on next dc cluster) repeat to end of row ss to join
Next row: (Ch13,1dc on on dcs), repeat across row repeat to end of row ss to join
Next row: Ch2, 1dc in each dc and every ch across row ss to join

The original shawl from Blij met draatjes

The shawl I made from the following site. It is in Dutch but I tried to concoct a pattern from the picture. If you understand Dutch you can click on the link below to get the actual pattern.

Ch82
Row 1: 1sc in next st, (skip 4 sts, 1dc,1ch, 1dc, 1ch, 1dc, 1ch, sc in next st) repeat to end of row
Row 2: Ss to 3rd 2 ch space of cluster,1sc, 2ch,1sc in next Ch space,repeat to end
Repeat these 2 rows decrease by half cluster on each row until only one shell remains

Pastel Frill
Using size 2.0mm crochet hook and size 10 cotton ( I found a double knit wool that was very pretty. Being to thick for Barbie I split the strands. This is very tiresome but to me it was quite worth my while. The dress looks awesome.

Ch 47 sts
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc over remaining sts (46 sts)
Row 2 to 4: 1ch sc across
Row 5: Ch 2 turn, hdc in 6 sts, ch 5, sk 10 sts, hdc x12, ch 5, sk 10 sts, hdc in 7 sts
Row 6: Ch 2, and hdc across sts
Repeat row 3 for16 more rows jointing the back seem when you think it is necessaryChow 23: hdc across in back of row
Row 24: 1ch, sc 2 times in each St across row.
Row 25: 1ch, sc across row
Row 26: 1ch, sc in same st, skip 2 sts, 5dc in next st, ( skip 1 st, 1ch, sc in next, 1 CH, skip 2 sts, 5 DC in next st) repeat across row doing a slip st into first st. Fasten off.
Row 27: Repeat row 25 and 26 in front loops. I found it looked prettier with staggered scallops so I swopped the sc and 5dc clusters around. Fasten off
Add buttons to back. If you use beads they are easily past through the hdc so no buttonholes are required.

If you use my pattern please credit Cam’s Crafts as the author. Please share photos of your creation for me to see. Thank you

I was planning on making a smock dress with a swirly skirt. After working for a while, and things were not working out as I had pictured in my mind, this dress started taking on a shape of its own. I had made a pact with myself to record any pattern I made up. Guess what? Dress is complete and true to form there is no pattern.

So now I am in the very unenviable position of having to try and duplicate the dress. I have to say I am very excited of how the dress came out. Well let me be off to see what I can do about the pattern.

Don’t you find that sometimes you wish you could easily remember a website that you go to frequently. I usually have to google the general name, that is if I remember the actual name, then get there. My husband has made me an app that he added my website to that. I have now downloaded onto my phone. It looks so cute.

Now if someone queries something, I do not have to go online on my laptop, I can just easily access it on the phone. I have added a link here so if you are interested to follow my blog then feel free to download it. It is absolutely free.